Chapter 690 - 277: Landing on the Island

Black Dragon Island. The top of the Black Dragon Tower.

Mo Yuan still sat cross-legged, his childlike face as placid as an ancient well.

Just then, Zhang Longhu strode hastily onto the observation deck, his expression more solemn than ever before.

"Master."

He spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying a barely perceptible tremor. "The men we sent to investigate have returned. Based on the residual auras and traces at the scene... Bai Cang, Mao Chengyue, Liu Jin, along with He Jie and Tu Wanjun of the Demon Sect... all five of them... have fallen! Luo Zhixian’s ship is currently heading toward the Feiyan Islands."

As he finished, Zhang Longhu’s voice dropped unconsciously lower.

Luo Zhixian heading to the Yanzi Dock stronghold—this was an event momentous enough to shake the entire Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands!

The news spread like wildfire. The various factions, large and small, across the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands—whether they were allies of Yanzi Dock, its enemies, or neutral observers—all caught wind of it to some degree.

In an instant, countless eyes turned toward the Feiyan Islands. All sides were stirring, watching and waiting, filled with a mixture of curiosity and tension.

On one side was a deeply entrenched local power; on the other, a fierce interloper—a ruthless and decisive Grandmaster. What kind of storm would a clash between them unleash?

"Yanzi Dock..." Mo Yuan muttered to himself.

"Master, why do you think Luo Zhixian is going to Yanzi Dock?"

Zhang Longhu couldn’t help but ask, utterly confused. "They just came out of a huge battle. Even though they won decisively, they should be quitting while they’re ahead and quickly returning to their Sect’s territory. Charging straight into the Feiyan Islands... isn’t that just walking into the lion’s den?"

"You don’t know Luo Zhixian very well."

Mo Yuan slowly shook his head. "He may seem cold, aloof, and uninterested in worldly affairs, but he is fiercely protective of his own and seeks revenge for the slightest grievance. The people from Yanzi Dock made trouble for his disciple time and again, even laying a trap to kill him. With his temperament, how could he possibly let it go? Killing a few of the Elders involved isn’t nearly enough to quell his rage. He is going there in person to demand a true accounting on his disciple’s behalf."

"Master, you mean... Luo Zhixian is going to Yanzi Dock for revenge? Or... to hold them accountable at their own doorstep?" Zhang Longhu was startled. Though he’d suspected it, hearing his master’s confirmation was still difficult to believe.

’Yanzi Dock has run the Feiyan Islands for many years; their foundations run deep. The place is teeming with experts, not to mention it’s overseen by five tyrannical old monsters with profound Cultivation. No matter how strong Luo Zhixian is, he’s still walking into the tiger’s den alone!’

Mo Yuan fell silent for a long moment, apparently weighing something in his mind.

Finally, he rose slowly to his feet.

"Go." Mo Yuan uttered a single word. "We’re going to take a look."

And so, the Master of Black Dragon Island, a hegemon in his own right, decided to personally travel to the Feiyan Islands and witness the impending, earth-shattering clash up close!

Meanwhile, in the core region of the Celestial Star Seventy-Two Islands, the Celestial Star Alliance—nominally the most powerful faction in the archipelago—also began to stir in response to this sudden turn of events.

The storm was gathering, and a dark tide was surging.

.....

The Feiyan Islands served as the core territory of Yanzi Dock. It was an archipelago of several dozen islands of various sizes, with the main one, Feiyan Island, being the most magnificent of all.

Natural deep-water harbors stretched for miles along the coast. On the largest of the main docks stood a forest of masts, their sails blotting out the sun.

Hundreds of Treasure Ships, merchant vessels, and passenger boats were docked here.

The docks were lined with warehouses, with an endless stream of carts and horses flowing past. Silk, porcelain, Elixirs, and Weapons came in, while Pearls, Coral, and Exotic Beast Materials were shipped out.

Two young men dressed in the uniforms of Yanzi Dock disciples stood idly chatting beside a Treasure Ship that had just been unloaded.

One of them, a smug look on his face, hefted a bulging coin purse in his hand.

He said proudly to his companion, "This run was definitely worth it! My cut alone is enough to trade for a fine Middle-Grade Treasure Artifact!"

His companion’s eyes were green with envy as he stared at the purse. "Senior Brother Wang, next time your brother-in-law sets sail, do you think you could get him to take me along? I heard there were even some extra Water Rhythm Pills on this trip, which would be a huge help for my Water Attribute Technique. If I could just get a piece of that action..."

The disciple known as Senior Brother Wang laughed and clapped his companion on the shoulder. "Of course, of course! I’ll put in a word with my brother-in-law when I get back, and he’ll bring you along next time! In the Thousand Reefs Sea Region, the Yanzi Dock flag is a free pass. As long as you’re on the right shipping route, you’re guaranteed to make a killing!"

Just as the two were fantasizing about the profits from their next voyage, a sudden, unusual commotion stirred on the distant sea.

A swift boat appeared, cutting through the waves at an astonishing speed. It completely ignored the harbor regulations, making a beeline straight for the main dock!

Standing at the prow were Deng Ziheng and Chen Qing, while Luo Zhixian stood silently within the boat, his aura completely contained.

"Who goes there? Halt! This is a restricted area of Yanzi Dock! Moor your vessel at once and submit to an inspection!" several Yanzi Dock experts on security duty bellowed from the dock, leaping up to intercept the boat.

Deng Ziheng snorted coldly. With a casual flick of his sleeve, a vast and heavy wave of True Essence surged forward like an invisible wall.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The Yanzi Dock experts who had leaped forward were sent flying as if they had crashed into a mountain. Spitting mouthfuls of blood, they were thrown backward even faster than they had come, smashing hard onto the stone-paved dock. After struggling for a moment, they fell unconscious, their fates unknown.

Senior Brother Wang and his companion, who had just been laughing and joking, turned deathly pale at the sudden turn of events.

"Enem... Enemy attack!"

A shrill, distorted shriek finally erupted from the stunned crowd.